Do you like chain restaurants?

Tyga11 · 05-20-2022, 07:30 PM

I guess I don’t understand the hate they get. Seems like people go out of their way to criticize those who eat at Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden, etc.

The food is always consistent and the meals are normally really good.

I’m not saying it’s fine dining but there’s a time and a place for them

2000cs · 05-20-2022, 07:42 PM

Enjoy! I prefer local restaurants for the variety, etc. Chains sometimes when traveling for a “reliable” meal, but always a local place if I can. Exception is Texas Roadhouse which remains really good.

leopard print · 05-20-2022, 07:55 PM

I like ‘em if the food is good. I enjoy OGs unlimited soup and salad.

overcoil · 05-20-2022, 10:17 PM

The mayonnaise wiggles under a microscope...

https://www.complex.com/life/arbys-m...-gratification

Tommy-G · 05-21-2022, 09:44 AM

Only a few chains I enjoy and most would be for lunch.
Cheesecake Factory
Brio/Bravo
Fords Garage
Ruth’s Chris steakhouse

Reborn_ · 05-21-2022, 09:49 AM

I don't enjoy them, but my wife's family loves them. I agree with the comment about consistency and knowing what you get. But you also know you are getting less value than the price (IMO).

ryan stewart · 05-21-2022, 10:35 AM

Local chains, yes, the big national, almost never. Olive Garden in the winter sometimes for soup/salad over lunch and CFA when stuck at the office but since WFH I might hit one of those places once every two months.

Too many cool little independent places around me. I prefer variety instead of consistency most days, and with the internet you can scout a place ahead of time so the concern about knowing what youre walking into isnt really a thing for me anymore, even on the road.

Glen e · 05-21-2022, 01:06 PM

Culver’s is about the best fast food I have had …..consistently across locations….

E92inNC · 05-21-2022, 01:27 PM

I usually go to family owned restaurants to support local businesses. Plus they have more incentive to make good food or they’ll go out of business. Losing a few regular customers won’t make any kind of a dent in the bottom line for a chain.

Kolyan2k · 05-21-2022, 06:16 PM

Not a fan of chains but I really like Yard House. Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden, Fridays etc, those I never go to. Heard some horror stories from waitress that worked at Cheesecake

tranquility · 05-21-2022, 06:27 PM

For sure there's a time and place, any time you want consistency and don't want to be 'ambushed' about what you're about to eat. I do prefer exploring but my wife likes to play it safe as there is supposedly more of a health std in chains.

Our03z4 · 05-21-2022, 06:34 PM

We like Chili's. Our local location has incredible service, food is decent and the price is great. Drink, starter and meal for $11 a person. Since we are reward members we usually get a free app as well. Makes for a good place to stop after work.

Lady Jane · 05-21-2022, 06:44 PM

Do guys go to Hooters for wings?

soopa · 05-21-2022, 06:49 PM

I like Buca di Beppo

3.0L · 05-21-2022, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

Do guys go to Hooters for wings?

Well... no.

ASAP · 05-21-2022, 07:49 PM

I do... in fact over the pandemic, I noticed they almost got better and the one off independents got worse. The one offs raised prices by a significant amount and a lot of the chains are still solid.

In my opinion - Bone Fish Grill and Olive Garden are very decent for the price.

ASAP · 05-21-2022, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

Not a fan of chains but I really like Yard House. Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden, Fridays etc, those I never go to. Heard some horror stories from waitress that worked at Cheesecake

I think Cheesecake is horrible and I think a large part of that has to do with how absurdly large their menu is, it cannot be consistent at that size... also love Yard House.

sly83 · 05-21-2022, 07:52 PM

Yes, most of them. Getting known quality in other countries is great.

Tyga11 · 05-21-2022, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASAP

I think Cheesecake is horrible and I think a large part of that has to do with how absurdly large their menu is, it cannot be consistent at that size... also love Yard House.

You think it's literally horrible? You just have to know what to order there...

vreihen16 · 05-21-2022, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

Do guys go to Hooters for wings?

Funny Hooters story. Back in the late 1990's, I had to make a press/sponsor appearance at a radio remote broadcast from a Hooters in western NY. Our table actually had a MALE server! Hooters had just lost a major gender discrimination case, so I guess this was the result.....

tranquility · 05-21-2022, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vreihen16

Funny Hooters story. Back in the late 1990's, I had to make a press/sponsor appearance at a radio remote broadcast from a Hooters in western NY. Our table actually had a MALE server! Hooters had just lost a major gender discrimination case, so I guess this was the result.....

Haha, did you take a pic? Was he hot at least? LMAO.

When I went to Singapore my waitress was called 'Evan', does that count?

leopard print · 05-21-2022, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

Do guys go to Hooters for wings?

I actually like Hooter’s wings. I’ve ordered them to go before.

05-20-2022, 07:30 PM	#1
Tyga11 Lieutenant Colonel 3626 Rep 1,774 Posts Drives: M3 Comp Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Arizona iTrader: (0)	Do you like chain restaurants? I guess I don’t understand the hate they get. Seems like people go out of their way to criticize those who eat at Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden, etc. The food is always consistent and the meals are normally really good. I’m not saying it’s fine dining but there’s a time and a place for them
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05-20-2022, 07:42 PM	#2
2000cs Captain 4097 Rep 1,003 Posts Drives: Potato Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: USA iTrader: (1)	Enjoy! I prefer local restaurants for the variety, etc. Chains sometimes when traveling for a “reliable” meal, but always a local place if I can. Exception is Texas Roadhouse which remains really good.
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05-20-2022, 07:55 PM	#3
leopard print First Lieutenant 1577 Rep 397 Posts Drives: Really well for an Asian. Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (5)	I like ‘em if the food is good. I enjoy OGs unlimited soup and salad.
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05-20-2022, 10:17 PM	#4
overcoil Major General 3155 Rep 5,582 Posts Drives: M235i 6spd Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Mid-Atlantic iTrader: (0)	The mayonnaise wiggles under a microscope... https://www.complex.com/life/arbys-m...-gratification Last edited by overcoil; 05-21-2022 at 10:11 AM..
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05-21-2022, 09:44 AM	#5
Tommy-G Captain 4699 Rep 694 Posts Drives: 2015 435 Vert Alpine White Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Bradenton FL iTrader: (0)	Only a few chains I enjoy and most would be for lunch. Cheesecake Factory Brio/Bravo Fords Garage Ruth’s Chris steakhouse
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05-21-2022, 09:49 AM	#6
Reborn_ Lieutenant 312 Rep 417 Posts Drives: '22 X5 s-drive40i; '07 Z4MC Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: SoCal iTrader: (7)	I don't enjoy them, but my wife's family loves them. I agree with the comment about consistency and knowing what you get. But you also know you are getting less value than the price (IMO).
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05-21-2022, 10:35 AM	#7
ryan stewart Major 2255 Rep 1,364 Posts Drives: 2008 328it Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0)	Local chains, yes, the big national, almost never. Olive Garden in the winter sometimes for soup/salad over lunch and CFA when stuck at the office but since WFH I might hit one of those places once every two months. Too many cool little independent places around me. I prefer variety instead of consistency most days, and with the internet you can scout a place ahead of time so the concern about knowing what youre walking into isnt really a thing for me anymore, even on the road.
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05-21-2022, 01:06 PM	#8
Glen e Retired from BMWNA 199 Rep 184 Posts Drives: ‘21 X2 m35i Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Fort Lauderdale iTrader: (0)	Culver’s is about the best fast food I have had …..consistently across locations…. __________________ Glen Ft Lauderdale '23 228i GC
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05-21-2022, 01:27 PM	#9
E92inNC Captain 1908 Rep 639 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: woods by the sea iTrader: (2)	I usually go to family owned restaurants to support local businesses. Plus they have more incentive to make good food or they’ll go out of business. Losing a few regular customers won’t make any kind of a dent in the bottom line for a chain.
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05-21-2022, 06:16 PM	#10
Kolyan2k Major General 992 Rep 5,552 Posts Drives: 2006 S2000 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boston iTrader: (1)	Not a fan of chains but I really like Yard House. Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden, Fridays etc, those I never go to. Heard some horror stories from waitress that worked at Cheesecake
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05-21-2022, 06:27 PM	#11
tranquility sportscars only 3530 Rep 3,275 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montréal iTrader: (0)	For sure there's a time and place, any time you want consistency and don't want to be 'ambushed' about what you're about to eat. I do prefer exploring but my wife likes to play it safe as there is supposedly more of a health std in chains. __________________ The richest one percent of this country owns half our country's wealth, five trillion dollars. One third of that comes from hard work, two thirds comes from inheritance, interest on interest accumulating to widows and idiot sons and what I do, stock and real estate speculation...It's bullsh*t. I create nothing. I own. We make the rules, pal...Now you're not naive enough to think we're living in a democracy, are you buddy?
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05-21-2022, 06:34 PM	#12
Our03z4 Captain 1765 Rep 694 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW Z4 3.0si Coupe, Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	We like Chili's. Our local location has incredible service, food is decent and the price is great. Drink, starter and meal for $11 a person. Since we are reward members we usually get a free app as well. Makes for a good place to stop after work.
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05-21-2022, 06:44 PM	#13
Lady Jane Cailín gan eagla. 87187 Rep 1,072 Posts Drives: 2024 X3 M40i and R1200RT bike. Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Atlantic Canada. iTrader: (0)	Do guys go to Hooters for wings?
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05-21-2022, 06:49 PM	#14
soopa Second Lieutenant 117 Rep 275 Posts Drives: 2018 F90 M5 Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Seoul, Korea iTrader: (0)	I like Buca di Beppo
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05-21-2022, 07:49 PM	#16
ASAP Major General 11275 Rep 9,216 Posts Drives: '23 X3 M40i Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	I do... in fact over the pandemic, I noticed they almost got better and the one off independents got worse. The one offs raised prices by a significant amount and a lot of the chains are still solid. In my opinion - Bone Fish Grill and Olive Garden are very decent for the price. __________________ 2 x N54 -> 1 x N55 -> 1 x S55-> 1 x B58
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05-21-2022, 07:52 PM	#18
sly83 Registered 12 Rep 0 Posts Drives: BMW F31 Join Date: May 2022 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	Yes, most of them. Getting known quality in other countries is great.
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